Robber on Moo Cow Trail robs local (non-student)

At about 6.30 o’clock, a female was attacked and robbed of certain personal items while walking at the Moo Cow Trail. The robber is a black male who came from the bushes with a machete. The individual that was robbed is a not a RUSM community member. The incident was reported to our Safety & Security Officers who attended and called the police, who also attended at the scene and are investigating the matter.

Married

I was recently married to a beautiful, wonderful woman. It was wonderful to have both families in DC for the event. The food was great, the wine was flowing, the music was going... what more could you want.

We ended up in Paris for a week after the wedding. Afterwards, however, I had to go back to Dominica and she stayed in the states to work. That is the life I picked, but it is temporary.

Coconut Retrievers

Ross University has wonderful stray dogs that are beloved by the campus community (with the exception of a few dog haters). The dogs are mostly coconut retrievers that are about 40 lbs, brown, short hair and very calm. Here are a few of my favorite.

Not a coconut retriever but they let him hang out anyway. Notice the collar. The students will place a collar on a stray just to let people know someone is feeding them occasionally and looking after them.

This picture was taken by a fellow student but I am not sure who. Notice the babies and the dinner mom has in her mouth.

Portsmouth Beach Hotel (PBH)

I think Dominica would be a fabulous island to vacation. But when your a med student, I think much of the beauty is taken for granted or just missed. With our heads in the books all day, it is easy to get a disdain for the place.

 

This is my place, Portsmouth Beach Hotel (PBH).
http://www.portsmouthbeachhotel.dm/


The view from my window. Down the sidewalk on the left is a beach bar. The room is small, but works for me.



We get an awesome desk, microwave, frig. My building



The PBH beach bar

I think this is the best bar in Dominica.














Looking down toward the town of Portsmouth















The PBH pier

Criminals target Ross University

Students and faculty at Ross University have been placed on high alert following two violent incidents of crime targeting the institution.

A security alert was sent to students and faculty of the school outlining the two incidents and the necessary precautions to be taken.

According to the security alert, which was obtained by Dominica News Online, the home of a faculty member was invaded by a burglar who forced him to lie on the floor. The burglar made good his escape with a lap top, iPads, a cell phone and cash.

The suspect that was involved in the faculty assault was brought before the court and sentenced to 2 years Hard Labor for wounding and three years for the theft that occurred around the same time. The sentences are to run consecutive, which means that he will be in prison for 5 years. The suspect had pleaded guilty to both offences.

The second incident occurred when a female student was sexually assaulted by a lone assailant while walking on the Lizard Trail.

The incidents occurred in the week leading up to Carnival.

http://dominicanewsonline.com/news/homepage/news/crime-court-law/criminals-target-ross-university/

Sorrel Drink, A local favorite

Today I am making sorrel drink. It is a local favorite in Dominica made from the septal of the roselle plant also called Hibiscus. The recipe is very simple. First you buy some of the sorrel flowers from a lady on the side of the road. If you can pick up some ginger also.

The following ingredients will make 2 litters of sorrel drink.

• 1lb Sorrel Sepals
• 1″ of Ginger
• 5 tbsp Sugar
• 2 liters of water

Instructions:
(1) Add grated ginger to sorrel sepals then pour 2 litters of water into the pot and bring to rapid boil. While boiling, add your optionals ingredients to the mixture to personalize your sorrel drink if desired.

(2) Allow your sorrel to boil for at lease 15mins, then remove from heat and cover to lock in the flavor.

(3) Allow the sorrel mixture to cool off then use a fine strainer to separate the sorrel juice from the sorrel sepals.

(4) At this point stir the sugar into the strained sorrel juice.

Of course every thing taste better with a little Bacardi rum!

The sorrel juice is know to be high in vitamin C. Locals claim to use it as an antiseptic, prevents diarrhea and scurvy (of course!). But don't take excessive doses because some side effects include:
(1) gastroenteritis, (2) jaw tightness, (3) skin rash, (4) brain damage, (5) kidney damage, (6) heart damage, (7) liver damage

The literature is not in agreement about the toxicity because what makes it toxic is oxalic acid which give the leaves and flowers a sour taste. Oxalic acid, however, is also present in more commonly consumed foods such as spinach, broccoli, brussel sprouts, grapefruit, chives, and rhubarb, among many others.

Anyway, caution to the wind! Bottoms up.

White Coat

Today we recieved our smart coats. The idea is that we will start seeing patients this semester and the coat impresses upon us the responsiblity of professionalism and ethics.

Although it was fun, I am not sure what all the parties are all about because we have not done anything yet. It was only the first week of class. I will reserve the partying for after the first exam I think.

Friends at De Champs

I have found my bar of choice on Dominica. It is called De Champs and it has the best view of the island. Here are some pics of my friends and I hanging out for a $1 per taco special.

Notice the old school sail boat cruise ship. This part of the island is actually 2 old volcanoes. In between the old volcanoes, in the valley, is Fort Shirley which housed the British garrison in the 1800s.

My Place in Dominica

My apartment in Dominica. It may look nice and similar to a US apartment but it is not. This is not a paradise vacation apartment, trust me. The place is called Silverlining apartments on Moo Cow trail.
http://www.silverliningrental.com/

Notice that the kitchen cabinets are made of white board material so I use a dry erase marker and study while I cook. What you don't get from the picture is the moldy smell my kitchen has. But you get used to it, cough, cough...

My study area is also in the kitchen. The kitchen table is also a dry erase board.

Just a simple bed.

Dominica, I have arrived

My trip to Dominica took two days of travel. I first flew to Antigua to ring in the new year.

The flight to Antigua was really nice, but I began to wonder if the wing was going to fall off. Note the paint coming off the wing.

But once I got past the damaged wing thing, I noticed some amazing islands and reefs down below.

I stayed in The Admirals Inn (http://admiralsantigua.com) which is located in a port where million dollar yachts were ready to party. It is really a nice place that was build in the late 1700's. Because I am a cheap med student I paid the lowest rate possible so they put me in the attic. I guarantee the attic has not changed since the place was built. There was no AC and the ceilings were so low that you could only turn around in the room before you hit your head.

After a late night of taking in the yachts and New Years party, I woke up at 4am to fly to Dominica.  On approach you see that the island is mountainous and not unlike the opening to Jurassic Park. But it is so beautiful!

As we approached the airport the experience was probably not unlike a Vietnam airplane ride (without the gun fire). We flew close to the trees, weaving between mountains when suddenly the airport appeared. The plane takes a dive down the side of the mountain to safely land. I was not worried for a second.

The airport had heavy security....

(This is Fort Shirley on the island)